murder!

Murder! is an unsung little nugget from the early sound days of Alfred Hitchcock. Although a lot of the film (Hitchcock's second talkie) appears stagey and crude, it still has the indelible marks of the master: the subtlety and economy of camera and sound (which was then in its early stages), the vestiges of his education in German filmmaking. Herbert Marshall tends to overdo it as Sir John Menier and the print I had was in a terrible state. But I'd recommend this one for Hitchcock's version of 12 Angry Men(which ends up being a tad unrealistically overdramatic) and the foreshadowing of future Hitchcock masterpieces like Strangers on a Train. CAMEO NOTE: Hitchcock can be seen about an hour into the movie walking past the scene of the crime.

TRIVIA NOTES:

* The film opens with Beethoven's 5th playing in the background. Thoughts on the significance and importance thereof are most welcome.

* There's the prelude to Tristan and Isolde playing during Sir John's (Herbert Marshall) interior monologue. Herrmann's score for Vertigo quoted this famous Wagner opera several years later. Common themes more than a coincidence I guess.

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